Several young disciples of the Miredon Family walked leisurely through the inner estate pathways, their laughter echoing beneath the elevated waterways that crisscrossed above the grounds like flowing rivers suspended in the air.
The Bloodline Hall stood nearby.
It was one of the most important buildings within the family estate, second only to the Ancestral Hall itself. Towering dark-blue pillars lined its entrance while countless glowing runes flowed across the walls like streams of water. At the very center of the hall rested the Bloodline Mirror, an ancient treasure capable of measuring bloodline purity and talent.
The upcoming bloodline awakening test had become the hottest topic among the younger generation.
"I’m telling you right now, Senior Brother Kallus is definitely going to place first."
A tall youth folded his arms confidently as he spoke, "His father already said his bloodline resonance reached nearly eighty percent last year. That means senior brother Kallus would definitely reach above ninety percent after the Bloodline Awakening Test!"
The others immediately scoffed.
"Ninety percent?" Another youth sneered. "Young Mistress Serane awakened the Deep Aquatic Tide Body six months ago. On top of the Miredon Bloodline, she has a new water-attributed physique which is extremely compatible. She’s obviously going to dominate everyone."
A young woman beside them nodded vigorously, "I heard even the elders were shocked after testing her."
"Of course they were shocked," Another disciple added excitedly. "Even though she’s from the branch family, her lineage is more or less connected to the Patriarch’s branch. Her bloodline purity was already eight-five percent when she first awakened. The second and final awakening chance after coming of age would boost her bloodline purity, but it doesn’t even matter since she has her physique. Young Mistress Serane would only get insanely strong!"
One of the younger boys looked full of envy.
"If my bloodline purity exceeds sixty percent, my father said he’ll finally allow me to cultivate the family’s higher-grade arts."
The others burst into laughter.
"Sixty percent? Don’t dream too much."
"You’ll be lucky if you don’t embarrass your branch."
The young boy’s face immediately reddened, "You bastards..."
One of the girls sighed dreamily.
"If I can score above eighty percent purity, I might finally attract the attention of the direct lineage."
"Marriage proposals?" One youth snorted. "Cultivation is what matters. Bloodline purity determines everything in our Miredon Family. The purer your bloodline, the stronger your future, and that directly translates into how many resources you receive and opportunities you get inside the family, which means an increase in cultivation and ultimately decides how far you can reach beyond the Autarch Stage."
The others nodded instinctively.
That was common sense within the family.
Their bloodline was their pride, their inheritance, and their very identity.
The Miredon Family had risen to prominence because of the purity of their water-darkness bloodline. Generation after generation, they obsessed over preserving and strengthening it. Every disciple understood from birth that their worth was tied directly to the bloodline purity flowing through their veins.
Who among them came from a worthy branch family and a trash branch family was directly decided by the bloodline purity they possessed on average, which was precisely why the Bloodline Hall held such importance.
Although they looked excited, there was also a faint sense of unease as this would decide their future within the family.
The atmosphere became increasingly lively as more disciples joined the conversation.
"Do you think any of us can reach ninety percent purity one day?"
"Ninety?" Someone laughed loudly, "Only monsters from the main lineage could reach that level."
"I heard Ancestor Varell himself possessed nearly ninety-three percent purity in his youth."
"That’s why he became a powerful Exalt. I heard his cultivation base reached as much as Level Six Exalt Stage, although I’m not sure since it was just my grandfather who told it to me when he was drunk. He said it was a fantastical moment to witness the power of a great Exalt."
The youths looked toward the distant Ancestral Hall with admiration.
To them, the old, secluded ancestors were almost mythical figures. They were ancient monsters who carried the purest forms of the family’s bloodline and consequently survived to this day while still protecting the family. In their minds, these people deserved the greatest respect.
One disciple suddenly grinned mischievously.
"Forget bloodline purity. I just want to see which poor fool embarrasses himself in front of everyone."
The group burst into laughter again.
A deafening sound suddenly erupted nearby.
The laughter stopped instantly as the disciples turned toward the side entrance of the Ancestral Hall.
The massive doors had swung open violently.
At first, they thought someone had attacked the estate.
Who would be daring enough to attack one of the core regions of their family estate? Just as they wondered, they saw a figure stumbling out from the darkness.
An old man staggered forward unsteadily.
Blood dripped from his robes.
No, blood didn’t drip but poured like a small fountain from head to toe.
The family disciples froze.
For one brief moment, their minds failed to process what they were seeing.
The old man’s skin bulged unnaturally while black-red veins crawled beneath the flesh like living parasites. Blood streamed endlessly from his eyes and mouth as he staggered forward in complete disarray. Thick streams flowed from his sleeves and fingertips before splattering onto the stone pathways below.
His body trembled violently with every step, as though something inside him was trying to claw its way out.
"An-Ancestor...?"
One disciple’s voice cracked.
The old man lifted his head, his expression blank.